The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Higgins in control in World snooker final despite Selby rally
Scot praises World Championship final opponent
John Higgins has predicted Betfred World Championship opponent Mark Selby might one day match legend Stephen Hendry’s record of seven Crucible titles.
But four-time winner Higgins, who at 41 is the oldest finalist since 49-year-old Ray Reardon lost to Alex Higgins in 1982, is determined to prevent the Leicester cueman landing a third title this year.
Higgins knows all about Selby’s battling qualities, and came into the match – which saw the Scot race into a 10-7 lead by 10.30pm last night – singing his praises.
“He could be the one right now who could challenge Hendry’s seven titles,” Higgins said.
“If he goes ahead and beats me, it’d be his third and he’s still a young man. But he’s not like Hendry as a player –Hendry couldn’t win the tough frames, he’d blow you away. Mark’s more like Steve Davis.”
Higgins called Selby “a big favourite” for the title. Such remarks were probably designed to lift pressure from his own shoulders, with Higgins quietly confident he stood an outstanding chance of lifting the trophy later tonight .
“I’m very proud to be in my sixth world final, and it’s a great feeling to be going for my fifth world title,” said the Scot.
In his third final, back in 2007, Higgins beat a 23-year-old Selby who had come through qualifying before making a surprise run through the draw.
“After that tournament I told him, ‘I know you’re disappointed but don’t be because you’re definitely going to come back and win this thing’,” Higgins said.
“He’s proven that, and now he’s going for his third one and he’s going to maybe be emulating Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry by retaining it. He’s a special player.”
In recent years Selby, who is enjoying an unbroken two-year spell as world no 1, has become the dominant player in the sport, and landing world titles in 2014 and 2016 have established him ahead of the likes of Higgins and Ronnie O’Sullivan as the man to beat.